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cinereus shrew

cinereus shrew

United States of America
Status
Least Concern

IUCN conservation assessment category

Habitat
Forest, Grassland, Wetland, Freshwater, Desert, Mountain, Tundra

Primary ecological niche & biome

Diet
grasses, fresh leaves, herbaceous plants, and wild seeds

Dietary type and primary food source

Activity
diurnal

Diurnal, nocturnal, or active patterns

Scientific Summary

GBIF Taxonomic Backbone & Wikipedia Registry Profile

COMMENTS: Type species of subgenus Otisorex. Does not occur in Siberia as previously suggested; the taxa haydeni, jacksoni, ugyunak, portenkoi, leucogaster, beringianus and camtschatica have been included previously but are now considered as separate species; see comments under these taxa and Junge and Hoffmann (1981, and references cited therein), van Zyll de Jong (1982, 1991 b), van Zyll de Jong and Kirkland (1989), and Pavlinov and Rossolimo (1987). S. fontinalis was separated from cinereus by Kirkland (1977), Junge and Hoffmann (1981), and Jones et al. (1992), but is considered, together with lesueurii, as a subspecies (van Zyli de Jong and Kirkland, 1989). However, George's (1988) data indicate it is a sister taxon to both cinereus and haydeni.
Biology & Conservation

Ecologically, the conservation status of cinereus shrew is officially designated as Least Concern. Current field registries estimate a global population composed of an unquantified number of individuals, making habitat preservation critical to maintaining their wild populations.

It is typically endemic to forest, grassland, wetland, freshwater, desert, mountain, tundra, showing great physiological synergy with its surroundings. In terms of dietary preferences, it relies primarily on a diet of grasses, fresh leaves, herbaceous plants, and wild seeds. It exhibits specialized adaptations centered around a diurnal activity pattern, optimizing its energy conservation and interactions within its native ecosystem. The species has a typical natural lifespan of approximately 15 years, allowing it to adapt and mature through structured generational cycles.

Ongoing biological monitoring and ecological advocacy emphasize the importance of protecting this species. The stability of its food chain and the prevention of fragmentation in its primary range are vital for the continued survival of cinereus shrew.

Energy & Activity Profile
Habitat & Adaptation Index
Quick Facts
Native RangeUnited States of America
Habitat RangeForest, Grassland, Wetland, Freshwater, Desert, Mountain, Tundra
Lifespan15 Yrs
StatusLeast Concern
ScientificSorex cinereus
Registry Info
Lifespan15 years
KingdomAnimalia
FamilySoricidae
Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus) - Taxon, Habitat & Photos | Symphony of Horizon | Symphony of Horizon